My Short Time with Julia

Last year, when I turned 25 my sister sent me a copy of My Life in France by Julia Child with this inscription: “I thought you needed some light reading before school starts back up. Happy 25th. I hope this book inspires you!” I was endeared to the Meryl Streep version of Child she portrayed in Julie and Julia, and always meant to read her autobiography, but the school year did start up and so did teaching and applications. Thus, the book was lost to my “should read” pile, but I admit not to the “must read.” My sister is an amazing aspiring chef, so I knew why she found it inspiring, but I didn’t think that I could get anything out of it besides “a cute summer read.” Anyways, I didn’t think I needed inspiration a year ago.

This summer I did need that inspiration.

Determined to get through the ever-growing pile of books, I came upon Julia Child’s book and absent-mindedly opened to my sister’s inscription that I had forgotten was there. I am woman enough to admit that in my seemingly perpetual emotional state I had to wipe a few tears away while my romanticism convinced me that my sister’s note was a sign. It’s so interesting what affect a few well-timed lines can have on a person’s soul. So, I suggested the book to my two collaborators, and luckily they agreed for it to be our first Thrice Booked book club choice.

From the first chapter, Julia Child’s enthusiasm for life, food, new experiences, personal growth and friendship is truly inspirational. The book is infused with her lively spirit, which stays with the reader long after the book is finished. Even when she writes about her hardships, her letdowns, her rejections, her last days in France, she is not to be disheartened and neither is the reader. Disappointment is a part of life, and it does not do to dwell in despair; her most important lesson: keep living, keep doing what you love and keep discovering your “raison d’etre in life.”

She says in her final pages, “And the great lesson embedded in the book is that no one is born a great cook, one learns by doing. This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook—try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!” How can you not apply this lesson and advice to life? In this impatient world, we want things now, we want to be good at something right away, we want every dream to be accomplished immediately and despair when plans need to be extended, when we need to start over, when we need to wait one more year (or two or three). But the good things come with patience. Julia Child did not become THE Julia Child until she was in her forties. She did not know that she wanted to be cook until her late 30s. It took 9 years to write Mastering the Art of French Cooking and yet another year to find a publisher. Above all, her life shows that patience and effort are both the keys to being great at anything. Often we do not know the importance of the time spent doing something until years later. She loved France most because the country taught her to slow down, and to enjoy every moment and every meal that came her way.

Her book also records the changing of an era. Peripherally, she discusses America’s “growth,” analyzing it from the French perspective, but through the eyes of an American. The French take the time to make something great, and she saw the sad devolution of the American kitchen that seems to represent the bigger picture of the American mindset. We want it all and we want it all now—even it if means sacrificing quality of ingredients and quality of life. Our chicken no longer tastes like chicken and we eat our vegetables out of cans. I think (and hope!) that our country is turning around in that there seems to be a movement back to fresh ingredients. I hope to one day be part of the home-farming and meatless Mondays movements! But I think this sacrifice in quality is evident not just in our foods but how we live our life, especially comparing ourselves to Europe. There are those that say “but we work harder and have more to show for it.” But do we? Statistics show that we are unhappier despite being richer than any other era. What does this mean? Doesn’t this show that this is the time to evaluate the American mindset? It’s literally making us fat and killing us!

Finally, her openness to new experiences, her emphasis that we need to be ready for anything and break out of our comfort zones is what really what impressed me the most. She achieved so much and lived such an amazing life because she hardly ever turned down an opportunity even if the change frightened her. She didn’t just live in or visit another country; she experienced the life of the people, from China to Norway to Germany to France… She made sure she experienced the people, the language, the culture and most importantly the food! She did not just go somewhere to tick it off her list or snap some pictures to show friends later. She traveled and saw and experienced and ate. I think today’s tourists could take a lesson from her, but I wonder if that kind of traveling is still possible. Even in her final days she saw her beloved Nice transform into the gaudy display that is the French Riviera it is today-- and the one that I visited (and not much impressed by). I would give anything to see Paris from her eyes. But, on my next vacation (fingers crossed for Germany), my goal is to travel with same intensity and depth that she did, not only with enthusiasm, but the will to really see the country.

So, I ask myself, “What would Julia Child do?” Her likely answer: “Ask yourself what you would do and do it with your whole self.” And, as she teaches, that answer should change as you change, which should be often.

[The full Thrice Booked round table discussion on My Life in France will be published on Sunday]